Club Q Update #51 - The Drinking Dragon.

The Drinking Dragon (or ‘Burroo’, meaning ‘iceberg’ in Manx Gaelic) is a geological feature off the coast of the southern tip of the Isle of Man, near the village I grew up in. My Dad always used to point it out to me when we were sailing in the Bay. The Island really is a wondrous place, with fantastical stories and myths around every corner, around every rock. I have a few books of Fynoderees and Bugganes, fairies, and other Manx stories and creatures that I just can’t wait to share with my daughter.

I wrote this tune on Mandolin (the one and only time that I have managed to do something of any worth on that little thing) during the time we were filming the ‘Island Bound’ documentary. It was another shelved song, but i’ve always loved the melody, and was quite proud to write something so far from my usual genre. The slower ‘verse’ parts reminded me of the rolling of the sea, then its quicker ending refrain sound to me like those waves finally breaking up against the Drinking Dragon with a crash.

I have a few tunes from that project kicking about - I really should do an accompanying EP to the film. Sometimes it takes me a while to get around to things.

I played both guitar and mandolin on this track, and the rather astounding Manx musician, Dave Kilgallon, put down some fiddle for me. He’s an exceptional talent, and is in a band called Mec Lir, which you should absolutely go and check out.

Hope you enjoy it,
Davy